Using the current major viral outburst of the new Netflix series “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” I wanted to respond and highlight the wrongdoings media past and present have shown, with identifying gender stereotypes; based on murder, masculinity and vunerability. Women more often than not are raised with the constant fear of being attacked or abused, the media plays a big part in this. Victim blaming is a constant thing that I am aware of, with stories and articles making comments like, “If she wasn't dressed like that she wouldn't have been targeted, she wouldn't be raped.” ,“You shouldn't go out on your own late at night.”. Comments like these are somehow justifying horrific acts and blaming the wrong people.
No more so apparent than how the current trailer for the movie ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.’ portrays Bundy’s character to be overly sexualised. Although I do agree with the statement made by Victoria Selman on behalf of Independant that, “Ted Bundy was incredibly charismatic and good looking.” I do think that using a film to justify why actions like this are acceptable is morbidly wrong. I understand that his character was charming and not fitting the serial killer stereotype, however presenting his victims as easy targets is morally wrong. This is a common preconception of young women in the media, it was this same bias that caused so many of the murders in the first place.
Another example of victim blaming I came across was the recent murder of Grace Milan. Grace was a young, intelligent and beautiful girl, that got blamed for her own death in the media, with very little coverage on the man that killed her.
An article I had read previously sums up my point perfectly “It is his choices that need scrutinising and judging a thousand times over. What drove him to kill a woman? Why was he violent? Has he been violent before? Why? He needs to be under the microscope: not Grace Millane.”
I cannot help but think if killers and aggressive men were not romanticised over media there would be fewer tragic events like this. Have we not learnt from past mistakes? Why are the media still romanticising men in power?
Bibliography
Bonner, M., (2019) One of Ted Bundy's Survivors Has Some Thoughts About Zac Efron Playing Him [Online] . Available at https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a26072757/ted-bundy-survivor-kathy-kleiner-rubin-reacts-zac-efron/ [Accessed on 29th January 2019 at 16.35]
Dent, G., (2018) Backpacking did not kill Grace Millane [Online] . Available at https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/backpacking-did-not-kill-grace-millane/
[Accessed on 11th December 2018 at 11.00]
Netflix, (2019) Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes [Online] . Available at https://www.netflix.com/title/80226612 [Accessed on 25th January 2019 at 19.00]
ONE Media, (2019) EXTREMELY WICKED SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE Official Trailer (2019) Zac Efron, Movie HD [Online] . Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP1ya1fiH_U [Accessed on 26th January 2019 at 21.00]
Selman, V., (2019) Filmmakers are right to sexualise Ted Bundy – here’s why [Online] . Available at https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ted-bundy-zac-effron-new-film-sexualise-serial-killer-a8751146.html [Accessed on 28th January 2019 at 20.10]
The Edge Breakfast with Dom, Meg & Randell, (2018) Meg reflects on the Grace Millane case in open letter [Online] . Available at https://www.facebook.com/EdgeBreakfast/videos/1963450280377012/ [Accessed on 11th December 2018 at 16.45]
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